Post game thoughts

**BryceC** · 01-24-2009, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by NickDavis

Even though we lost, the crowd and atmospere was awesome!!!

I thought the crowd was extremely lame especially in the second half. There were times it was almost completely silent.

Originally Posted by isucyfan

I have yet to hear the Mac detractors give any suggestions as to what they would do to better the team/program. I'm very curious how they would go about fixing things.

Before the season ever started I said our problems were not fixable this season. The only solutions to our problems right now is recruiting better players. I love that those guys work hard and really put it out there for us fans, you could tell they wanted it today.

**cyco2000** · 01-24-2009, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by isucyfan

Fair enough.
With this being said, I think these things, and the McDermott downsides in general, are not the complete product of bad coaching. It's been rehashed here ad naseum, but there just aren't many coaches that could come in and succeed quickly with the hand that's been dealt them. I subscribe to the thought that the devastating defections from the program have more to say about those that chose to leave than McDermott, and no one that loses the talent that we've lost should be very good right now.

I also think we're not far away from being good. I think we are vastly improved from last year. I remember taking 25 seconds to get into our sets. It's not showing up in the W/L column yet, but we are improving. I will love to see upperclassmen in the system next year.

Before you accuse me of "waiting for next year", or being a Mac apologist, please give me something concrete that you would do to improve the program. I think complaining is a waste of breath, and I will respect constructive criticism. It's the repeated complaining with no substance that grates on my nerves.

That is all...you asked!

Excellent post! That doesn't mean I completely agree. I like to discuss this with you because you don't just pull **** out of nowhere and call it the truth--you always have something backing your arguments.

Here's my meager attempt to match wits:

I agree with much of what you said as far as improvements, except I'm not sure we're moving forward. I'm no coach, I'm just a fan. I only know what I see from a fan's perspective. I can't say we're looking great in practice, or we're improving talent. To me, we're not, because we're not winning more games (we're not even getting closer losses).

The only thing concrete that I know to improve the program would be to win. I'm not trying to be an ***, I'm just telling you what I want in the third (or second) year of a coach, and that is more wins. I'm not

Complaining may be a waste of breath, but what is doing the same thing over and over and then expecting different results?

**iowaboy** · 01-24-2009, 04:29 PM

I'll tell you what I feel is a more important issue than winning today. Its the way we lost and our style of play. College Basketball is LESS about game day coaching and more about athletes on the floor. In the past with other ISU coaches we had really good players. Not GREAT players but really good solid players that were coached properly. Today we have with a few exceptions weaker players that are still coached properly, but in a style they can compete in. I fear that Macs boring 1/2 court game will drive fans away from Hilton especially when we are losing. Once we lose the true fans (see Iowa) its really going to spirial downward. Macs play is boring, methodical and slow. It is not the style of play that FANS go crazy over. I'll Take a 70% winning pct. for a team thats up and down full court press action than a 80% win pct. for a team that is so boring that I would rather watch a washed- out railroad bridge. (See Wisconsin.)

This and this alone will be Macs undoing. Not only is he going to have to start winning very soon, he is going to have to do it with excitement and not a Wisconesce mind-set. Todays game sucked. Our spacing on defense was pathatic. How many times are we going to overplay then and have them backside us to the basket. If we are going to over play then overplay to the side that forces them to the middle. Our shot selection sucked, can't hit free-throws when it counts, let them shoot uncontested early in the game which set the tone for the whole game.

Gentlemen, We basically suck and the "Hilton Magic" is gone because we can't stay close enough to make it happen. When we lose the fans then all is lost. Time for me to go find a washed-out railroad bridge.

**isucyfan** · 01-24-2009, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by iowaboy

I'll Take a 70% winning pct. for a team thats up and down full court press action than a 80% win pst. for a team that is so boring that I would rather watch a washed out railroad bridge. (See Wisconsin.)

I disagree here. I want to see us win, no matter how boring. Winning is never boring to me.

**CyinCo** · 01-24-2009, 04:50 PM

Waaaaaa! We lost......Waaaaaaahahhhhhhhh.....Waahhhahahaaaaa. I'm an adult but I cry when we lose to teams that are better than us!!!!!

That is how some of you sound. Get a grip.

Awesome game by Brackins. When the other team goes for near 60% as a team, it is tough to win. Especially tough when our team goes for less than 30% and only 6 of 26 on 3s. Not good shooting all game.

On another positive note, we got to the line and hit a high percentage.

**Wesley** · 01-24-2009, 04:50 PM

Looks like we are tracking to match the same old for the last three years. We have three or four more to win. We do mot look improved. Craig is now doing Juri duty and Wesley has not been replaced. Rashon was just as biog a shooting thrweat as AST or VB or Ham. We are the same.

**StLouisClone** · 01-24-2009, 04:51 PM

So would anyone besides Staiger and Brackins even see the floor if they played for KU?

Collins > Garrett
Taylor > Peterson
Staiger = Morningstar (not today though)
Brackins > Morris
Aldrich > Hamilton

It's amazing to see the talent that is sitting on KU's bench. Guys like Tyrel Reed and Mario Little would be starting for ISU.

Kansas College Basketball - Jayhawks Statistics - Men's Basketball - ESPN

**Tornado man** · 01-24-2009, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by StLouisClone

So would anyone besides Staiger and Brackins even see the floor if they played for KU?

Staiger would not see the floor for KU and Bill Self. Kansas is very intense defensively and puts a premium on rebounding. That leaves Lucca out.

**m7nick** · 01-24-2009, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by CloneInHawkCountry

Our players were getting set up for open shots!!!!!
No one could drop them consistently except Brakins.
The coachs can't take the shots for the players.

No, but the coaches recruit...why is Huluska even on our team. We need to get better talent or McD needs to go.

**Enginerd** · 01-24-2009, 04:58 PM

The saddest part of this game is that I think it is one of the team's best efforts of the year and they still lost by 15 points to an unranked opponent at home. Slice it any way you want to but that's the bottom line.

**isucyfan** · 01-24-2009, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by m7nick

No, but the coaches recruit...why is Huluska even on our team. We need to get better talent or McD needs to go.

Haluska is a walk-on. He's on the team because we didn't have any guards that could play last year. Plus, he is still one of the team's best defenders, although no one got it done today against Collins.

I just don't see how you can call out players like this. Haluska and Petey have done everything asked of them. Where would we be without them? Answer: Worse than we are now.

**LutherClone** · 01-24-2009, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by hailtojohnny

Game plan was good in my opinion, Mac can't go out and make the open shots. If Jamie or Sean hit those open looks we might have something. Lucca had difficulty getting his shot up. Craig had a great effort and was very efficient.

Mac can coach with anyone in the Big XII.

ABSOLUTELY my thoughts. I think that GMac had a good plan, but the shots just didn't fall. We're headed in the right direction.

On another note, I saw just a glimmer of rowdiness in the crowd on t.v., which was nice seeing that Hilton Magic (or anything even slightly close too it) hasn't been seen for quite some time.

**Tornado man** · 01-24-2009, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by isucyfan

Haluska is a walk-on. He's on the team because we didn't have any guards that could play last year. Plus, he is still one of the team's best defenders, although no one got it done today against Collins.

I just don't see how you can call out players like this. Haluska and Petey have done everything asked of them. Where would we be without them? Answer: Worse than we are now.

Great post. How many players besides these two and Brackins will get down and dirty to win a game? No one.

**ISUFan22** · 01-24-2009, 05:10 PM

Been saying this again and again - until we get somewhat consistent offensive help from guys not named Craig and Lucca - we will continue to lose. And we didn't even get help from Lucca tonight.

And frequently digging ourselves holes is killin' this team.

**ScottyP** · 01-24-2009, 05:12 PM

The biggest problems I see is that first, we are not strong enough. Second, we need people who can create their own shots. The bad thing is, we got so many problems on this team that even with next year's recruiting class, I don't know if it is enough to save McD's job. If there is not noticeable improvement next year. It is over for him.